Classes & Workshops

Note: All listings on this page reflect Pacific Time. Unless noted otherwise, classes are held virtually via Zoom.

Class Spotlight: Upcoming classes

Change Essentials (3 session course), October 8th, 14th, and 22nd- 10am – 12pm
Smartsheet Essentials: Project Planning Made Easy, October 13th, 10am – 12pm
Difficult Conversations, October 16th, 10am – 12pm
Excel Intermediate/Advanced (2 session course), Oct 21st & Oct 28th – 9am – 12pm

Other Campus Offerings:

These programs are open to UCOP employees. They may have fees that must be covered by departments (not covered by the learning and development department).
Berkeley People Management (BPM) series & certificate programs | People & Culture – Free

STEP Deadlines & Resources for the 2026/2027 Performance year

STEP learning resources | Watch the short STEP overview video | Contact your STEP team | FAQs for quick answers

Define Criteria: Complete by May 29th, 2026

Check-in one: Complete by August 28th, 2026

Upcoming Classes and Workshops

Featured

People Leader Forum

Online: Friday, September 25, 1 - 2pm

As AI tools become more common in the job search process, recruiters and hiring managers are adapting their recrutiment and interviewing approaches. Join us for this month’s People Leader Series to discuss how AI is impacting recruitment at UCOP, including resumes, candidate screening, and interviewing. We’ll review effective interviewing techniques, behavioral-based questions, and follow-up strategies that help validate candidate experience and capabilities.

Manager and Employee Conversations Part 1: Feedback & Coaching

Online: Thursday, October 1, 10am - 12pm

Manager and Employee Conversations Part 1: Feedback and Coaching Employees (Formerly “GROWing Your Check-in Conversations for Managers”)

Effective managers create space for meaningful conversations that support employee growth and performance. This is part 1 of a 2 part required series on manager and employee conversations.

In this interactive session, managers learn how to structure employee conversations using the GROW framework—a practical model that helps guide collaborative, coaching-focused discussions during 1-1s and check-ins.The framework breaks down the conversation into 4 parts: Goal, Reality, Options, & Will:

Determine Goal
Discuss Current Reality
Discuss Options
Determine the Will

This course was previously offered as “GROWing Your Check-in Conversations.” If you have already completed that course, you do not need to retake it under the new name. However, you are welcome to attend again to refresh your skills and gain additional practice with the framework.

Excel Power Pivot (Session 1 of 2)

Online: Tuesday, October 6, 9am - 12pm

Learn Data modeling and BI fundamentals using Excel, and is ideal for Analysts and staff working with large datasets.

What You’ll Learn

• Data modeling
• Relationships
• DAX calculations
• Measures and KPIs
• PivotTables from data models

Software Requirements

Microsoft Excel (Microsoft 365 desktop version)
Power Pivot enabled

Recommended Setup A dual‑monitor setup is recommended for the best learning experience. Participants with a single screen can still fully participate; simple adaptations will be provided.

Attendance is required for both sessions: Oct 7th & Oct 9th

Change Essentials (Session 1 of 3)

Online: Thursday, October 8, 10am - 12pm

Change Essentials is a three-part workshop designed for employees who are currently leading a change effort or expect to lead one in the near future. Based on the best-selling book Our Iceberg Is Melting: Changing and Succeeding Under Any Conditions by John Kotter and Holger Rathgeber, the program introduces participants to Dr. Kotter’s proven framework for leading successful change, including the Eight Steps for Leading Change and Four Core Change Principles. Participants will gain a foundational understanding of how people respond to change and learn practical strategies for building commitment, momentum, and successful outcomes.

Through discussion, reflection, and interactive exercises, participants will apply course concepts to a current or anticipated change within their department or as part of a broader organizational change initiative. By the end of the program, learners will be better equipped to identify opportunities and challenges in change efforts, engage stakeholders effectively, and develop actionable strategies to support and sustain lasting change.

Attendance is required for all three sessions: Oct 8th, Oct 14th, & Oct 22nd

Smartsheet Essentials: Project Planning Made Easy

Online: Tuesday, October 13, 10am - 12pm

Learn the core skills needed to manage projects effectively using Smartsheet. This foundational session is designed for new users and project managers seeking to understand how to leverage Smartsheet for project planning and execution. Through practical demonstrations and hands-on activities, participants will gain the knowledge to set up and manage projects confidently, using features such as Gantt charts, task assignments, and resource allocation.

This workshop focuses on the essentials, helping participants create organized workflows and understand best practices for using Smartsheet in real-world scenarios. Whether you’re planning a single project or managing multiple teams, this session equips you with the tools to stay on track and deliver successful outcomes.

ME@UCOP: Managing in the Modern Workplace (In Person)

Broadway - B 7001: Tuesday, October 13, 9am - 3:30pm

Managing in the Modern Workplace: In this session, we will discuss UCOP processes and strategies that support building inclusive and engaged teams. Topics include:

Managing remote and hybrid teams
People Development
Fostering Community and Belonging as a Manager

This is a full day course offered either in-person or remote. We highly encourage managers to attend in-person. This is part of the Manager Essentials at UCOP (ME@UCOP). It is required for all people new to a management or supervisory positions at UCOP since 2020 (internal promotions and external hires).

All experienced managers are welcome to attend.

Box Advanced

Online: Wednesday, October 14, 1 - 2pm

Want to know how to securely store sensitive data in Box? Interested in how to get data into Box via email or URL? Sign up for this advanced Box class and we will cover a wide range of topics including setting up alerts to monitor folders and using Box groups to manage department collaborations.

Difficult Conversations

Online: Friday, October 16, 10am - 12pm

Ever had a disagreement with someone where the conversation didn’t go quite the way you wanted it to? As conflict is inevitable, join us in exploring strategies for navigating difficult conversations in both your personal and professional life. In this highly interactive course, you will learn Core Principles to successfully navigate disagreements and apply them through practice role-playing. By the end of the workshop, you’ll feel more confident in approaching difficult conversations with anyone in your life.

ME@UCOP: Compensation

Online: Tuesday, October 20, 9am - 12:30pm

This is a live, virtual, instructor-led session where we will discuss UCOP Compensation policies and procedures. Topics include:

Promotion & Equity
Salary Range Offers, Hiring, and Bargaining Units
Career Tracks, Job Builder by JDX and Position Description

This is part of the Manager Essentials at UCOP. It is required for all people new to a management or supervisory positions at UCOP since 2020 (internal promotions and external hires). All experienced managers are welcome to attend.

Excel Intermediate/Advanced (Session 1 of 2)

Online: Wednesday, October 21, 9am - 12pm

Learn High level Excel skills for analysis and reporting., and is ideal For Experience Excel users and analysts.

What You’ll Learn

• Advanced formulas and functions
• Conditional formatting
• Data validation
• PivotTables and PivotCharts
• Forecasting tools
• Dashboards and slicers

Software Requirements

Microsoft Excel (Microsoft 365 desktop version)

Recommended Setup A dual‑monitor setup is recommended for the best learning experience. Participants with a single screen can still fully participate; simple adaptations will be provided.

Attendance for both sessions is required: Oct 21st & Oct 28th

Creating Accessible Documents Part 1: Word

Online: Wednesday, October 21, 1 - 2:30pm

Digital accessibility is about ensuring users with disabilities can easily access and engage with any digital content. In this course, you will learn the principles of digital accessibility, how to generate accessible Microsoft Office Documents and how to export these to PDF. This is the first course in the series and a prerequisite for UCOP Creating Accessible Documents 2: PDFs.

Effective Leadership in Turbulent Times: Psychological Tools for Navigating Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity (VUCA)

Online: Thursday, October 22, 1 - 2pm

In today’s fast-changing world, leaders are constantly faced with unpredictability, high-stakes decisions, and pressure to maintain stability. How do you stay steady when the ground beneath you keeps shifting?

Join Dr. Ana Dolatabadi from the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) for this one-hour training designed specifically for leaders navigating uncertainty. You’ll gain practical, psychology-based strategies to:

Focus on what you can control and let go of what you can’t
Cultivate stability for yourself and your team during times of change
Reduce stress when facing unknowns
Avoid common leadership pitfalls in volatile environments

Register for Effective Leadership in Turbulent Times: Psychological Tools for Navigating Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity (VUCA)

Impactful Storytelling for Business Professionals

Online: Thursday, October 29, 9:30am - 12pm

This workshop is designed for all business professionals seeking to master storytelling as a strategic communication tool. It aims to enhance their ability to convey compelling narratives that resonate with diverse audiences, including colleagues, stakeholders, and clients. Through interactive exercises, practical application, and expert guidance, participants will discover how to effectively use storytelling to clarify their vision, motivate teams, and drive organizational objectives.

Box Fundamentals

Online: Tuesday, November 3, 11am - 12pm

This course will give you an overview of Box, the cloud-based service that provides secure file storage and file sharing.

How to use Box
How to collaborate with UCOP and non-UCOP people
Commenting directly on files, folder permissions, shared links, and many other tips that will help you when using Box.

Administrators from IT will be on hand to answer your questions and review the best features of Box. More info on Box can always be accessed on our webpage.

Excel Power BI (Session 1 of 3)

Online: Thursday, November 5, 9am - 12pm

Learn Dashboards and reporting using Excel and Power BI, and is ideal for Analysts and staff interested in dashboards and reporting.

What You’ll Learn

• Preparing Excel data for Power BI
• Building Power BI visuals
• Designing dashboards
• Publishing and sharing reports

Software Requirements

Microsoft Excel (Microsoft 365 desktop version)
Power BI Desktop (free download; approval needed from UCOP IT)

Recommended Setup A dual‑monitor setup is recommended for the best learning experience. Participants with a single screen can still fully participate; simple adaptations will be provided.

Attendance for all three sessions is required: Nov 5, Nov 12, & Nov 18

Success in the Workplace for Newer Professionals

Online: Thursday, November 5, 1 - 2pm

This training equips both new and early-career employees and the managers who support them with the skills, awareness, and behaviors needed to thrive in today’s evolving workplace. As a new generation enters the workforce, natural shifts in communication styles, values, and expectations can create friction—but also opportunity. Through a mix of practical guidance and concrete examples, participants will learn the unwritten norms that shape workplace success, from communication and meeting etiquette to collaboration, professional presence, and work habits.

The session also highlights the unique strengths the newer professionals bring to organizations and offers strategies to bridge gaps, build mutual understanding, and foster a culture where employees at all levels can grow, contribute meaningfully, and succeed.

Manager and Employee Conversations Part 2: Feedback for Employee Accountability

Online: Friday, November 6, 9:30am - 12pm

Manager and Employee Conversations Part 2: Feedback for Employee Accountability
(Formerly “GROW Plus: Accountability Conversations”)

This is the second part in the required live training series, Manager and Employee Conversations. This training answers the question: What do I do when my coaching is not improving performance?

In this highly interactive live virtual workshop, we will cover providing productive critical feedback, managing emotions, creating efficient documentation, and holding effective accountability conversations. Managers will also practice having accountability conversations using the UCOP GROW Plus framework.

Additional Classes

Using the UC Learning Center

Registration: Log in to the UC Learning Center using your UCOP login and password. In the Search box on the left, enter the name of the class you want. Select the session you want, then select the Register box and Submit.

Cancellation: You can cancel your registration through the UC Learning Center. We ask that you cancel 48 hours before the scheduled class time so that others may sign up, or contact the Learning & Development Team.

If you require any assistance or accommodation with finding, registering or attending a class please email the Learning & Development Team.